Positives
- Lifetime warranty and professional installation
- Fire, CO and home intrustion detector
- Prepared dispatchers
Negatives
- Just one type of base unit
- No extra accessories
- No online ordering
Life Alert is a medical alert company that aims atnot just protecting the people’s medical safety, but rather their overall well being. Since its foundation in 1987, Life Alert protects and provides help to its users in regardless the dire situation they’re in. More than 30,000 testimonials from its subscribers and an endorsement from former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop are the proof of Life Alert’s reliability. The company offers quick response for any kind of threat an elderly may face, including non-medical cases like fire, CO leaking or home intrusion. The company also grants its members extra features, like an emergency cell phone, a mobile application and a free information assistant. All these services aim to prolong the time your beloved family member can stay independent, without the need to move to a retirement home.
Best Medical Alert Systems of 2023
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Editor's Choice 2023 |
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Monitoring Services
There is no better way to ensure safety than quick reaction, and that is the reason why Life Alert is focusing on the monitoring service. In case of a home emergency – like a fall, seizure, heart attack, stroke or other serious illness – most people would reach out for the telephone. This, however, is not always possible, and the senior may lie on the floor for hours, disconnected from any help. These are the times when Life Alert’s medical alert system steps in, allowing the periled persons to summon help with a small button they can conveniently keep close to themselves.
The main pillar of the system is the emergency response center, which stands ready to help senior citizens 24/7 even on holidays. The stellar efficiency and high-quality standards were judged by Underwriters Laboratories, resulting in a certification. The company has no less than nine offices across the US to support its medical alert system with monitoring services to assist in case of an emergency. They currently employ more than 600 dispatchers, which is way more than an average ambulance’s staff to make sure you get an operator on the line without any delay. The operator then asks about your status, and dispatches appropriate help when needed. This happens even if the user is not responding or unconscious. They also stay in line, providing support and relief during the emergency. Life Alert operators have access to you medical information, meaning they can give specific information for the paramedic, ensuring the correct treatment.
Wide range Range of detection Emergencies monitoringMonitored
Even though most people only think about health-related issues when considering a medical alert company’s offers, it should be noted that there are other dangers around the house that may threaten your beloved relative. These include fire, smoke and carbon monoxide leaking, which the special Life Alert detectors quickly react to by automatically sending a signal to the monitoring team. The company even offers a special audio monitoring system, which can repel home intrusions. In case you wake up at night for a loud noise, press the button included to the audio device. The dispatch center will hear the ruckus through the high-sensitivity microphone, and then respond by playing a loud blast. If the burglars are refusing to leave, the operator is going to claim that their voice is recorded and the police are already on route.
Monitoring Equipment
To attain the wishes of independence seeking seniors, Life Alert developed a stable and reliable monitoring and care alert system. There is constant connection between the base unit and the medical alert pendant, which leads to a quick response when you push the button. The emergency signal will be forwarded through the landline-based home unit and sent through to LifeAlert’s monitoring centers. Thanks to the built-in two-way voice communication feature, the person facing a dangerous situation not only hears the dispatchers, but is also able to communicate with them to explain the situation if needed. Your plea will be always heard even when several rooms separate you from the base unit. The emergency pendant is available in white color, and thanks to its light weight it can be worn as a pendant or as wristband. It is wireless, waterproof and signals to the base unit within 150 feet range.
Emergency Help Phone and Mobile Application
It’s true that the master unit and the pendant protect you around the house, but it’s when we’re out and about that we often feel the least safe. Life Alert won’t abandon protecting its customers even if you are out in town or are on a vacation trip. The emergency help phone with monitoring service provides a safety net wherever you go and can be used by all of your family members. This useful device has GPS tracking, making it possible to pinpoint the carrier’s location nationwide after activation. The batteries last up to 10 years, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them. For those who are accustomed to using a smartphone, Life Alert offers a special mobile application that provides the same benefits: by pressing a large button you will be connected to the same monitoring center. The application also has a flashlight and voice command features. For regular cell phones a speed dial function is provided.
Setup
Although the setup is really easy and doesn’t take much time or tech-know-how to get it to work, Life Alert still thinks about elderly who are not well versed in modern devices. All the products Life Alert provides come with professional installation nationwide. This way the company guarantees that all medical alert equipment is functioning properly, ensuring a reliable protection in crisis situations. The emergency pendant is waterproof and very durable. With its size of two by two inches it’s easy to shove the pendant into your pocket or bag when tired of wearing it. Life Alert products come with lifetime warranty, replacing and repairing any damaged or malfunctioning unit for free.
Pricing
Even though you may find lots of health and medical related information on Life Alert’s website, you should be aware of the fact that no direct mentions of the monthly prices or other fees are available. The company works with monthly subscription fees, as they claim that 36 months of membership costs less than a month at any retirement institution. For further information, you should contact them personally by phone, as you will receive a free brochure when calling them. This brochure describes in details what should be known about the prices and the method of ordering. You can order the brochure via the Life Alert smartphone application too, which is available for both iOS and Android systems. The application is free to download, but the crucial features only open for members.
Customer Service
Life Alert’s website is a true dictionary in terms of medical knowledge, as it contains information on more than 40 health topics. You can learn more about the medical alert symptoms and treatment of different illnesses, such as diabetes, or the current technologies used in medical care. The website and their Facebook page also provide an in-depth guide about the services. However, these guidelines don’t make up for the total lack of details regarding the medical alert system. There is no live chat or direct email address marked out for answering your questions. The only way to get additional information is by requesting a free brochure over the phone. It should be noted that as a Life Alert member you receive access to a personal free information service that gathers information about nearby doctors, pharmacists and warns about extreme weather conditions.
Bottom Line
Life Alert may seem old-fashioned compared to other medical alert companies, as it lacks the wide variety of master units, the wireless version or the built-in fall detection – not to mention the limited range of extra accessories. But it doesn’t mean the company is not valuing its subscribers. Life Alert puts a great emphasis on the monitoring service, as they have a large and well-prepared crew of dispatchers who stay on the line while sending professional help. The company also has numerous detection systems for every possible dangerous situation at home, even for non-medical ones.
Best Alternative Medical Alert Systems
| Rank | Company | Info | Visit |
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Editor's Choice 2023 |
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3 |
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